Ignition system



Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IGNITION SYSTEM Richard J. Courcier, Sr., New Orleans, La.

Application June 10, 1940, Serial No. 339,786

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an ignition system and has for an object to provide in an ignition system switch apparatus for opening the circuit to the ignition devices when the internal combustion engine is not running so that in case the ignition switch has been inadvertently left closed, current cannot be wasted from the battery.

A further object is to provide switch apparatus of this character which may be held in closed circuit position by advancing a single set screw so that current may be obtained from the battery to energize the ignition circuit when the generator is not actuated so that ignition or motor trouble may be readily located.

A further object is to provide apparatus of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

The figure is a diagrammatic view of an igniticn system embodying a switch constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, l designates a battery, II a starting motor, [2 a generator, I3 an ammeter, I4 an ignition switch, and I5 a starter pedal, these parts being conventional in ignition systems for internal combustion engines.

In carrying out the invention, a pair of stationary switch contacts l6 and H are disposed in a switch housing l8 and insulated therefrom. The contacts are adapted to be bridged by the starter pedal switch contact l9 when the pedal is depressed to establish a circuit through the starting motor II from the battery. The starting motor circuit comprises a conductor wire which is connected to the battery and is connected to one side of the starting motor by a wire 2|. The other side of the motor is connected by a wire 22 to the switch contact I6. The switch contact I! is connected by a wire 23 which is grounded at 23. The ammeter is connected by a wire 24 to the ignition switch M which is connected by a wire 25 to the ignition devices. When the starter pedal switch I 9 is depressed to bridge the stationary contacts I6 and I1 current is simultaneously supplied from the battery to the starting motor and to the ignition devices through the circuit just traced.

When the starting motor is set in operation, the engine starts, the generator I2 is driven by the engine and delivers current through an electro-magnet switch to the ignition devices and to charge the battery. The electro-magnet switch comprises an electro-magnet 26 having a resilient armature 21 which is fixed at one end to, and is insulated from, the housing I 8. The armature is formed of conducting material and is provided with a switch contact 28 which co-acts with a stationary switch contact 29 which is carried by and insulated from a base 30 which supports the electro-magnet in the housing. A set screw 3| is threadedly engaged through an insulating bushing 32 which lines an opening in the housing. The set screw bears against the resilient armature 21 to control the gap between the contacts 28 and 29, or even to completely close the gap when the set screw is advanced manually against the armature for emergency purposes as will presently appear.

The generator circuit comprises a conductor wire 33 which connects one side of the generator [2 with one end of the coil of the electromagnet. The other end of the coil of the electro-magnet is connected by a wire 34 to a wire 36 which is connected to the wire 36' which leads to the ammeter l3. When the engine starts the generator is actuated and supplies current to the ignition devices through the wire 33, electro-magnet 26, wire 34. wire 36 and wire 24.

The electro-magnet, when energized, moves the armature contact 28 to circuit closing position with the stationary contact 29 for closing the battery charging circuit which comprises a wire 31 which is connected to the stationary switch contact 29 and which is also connected to the wire 36 which leads to the ammeter [3. A second wire 38 is connected to the resilient armature 21 and is connected to the wire 20 which leads from the battery [0. While the generator is running the electro-magnet 25 is energized and holds the contact 28 in circuit closing position with the contact 29 to maintain the battery charging circuit closeu.

When the motor is not running, the generator is quiescent and the electro-magnet is de-energized. Therefore, the electro-magnet controlled contacts 28 and 29 of the battery charging circuit are in open circuit position and no current can flow from the battery to the ignition devices even though the ignition switch [4 be closed. If, however, current is desired when the motor is not running in order to locate ignition trouble, the set screw 3| is advanced to move the armature contact 28 into engagement with the stationary contact 29. The battery charging circuit then becomes an emergency circuit from the battery to the ignition devices, the emergency circuit including the wire 38, armature 21, contacts 28 and 29, wire 31, wire 36 and wire 36.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

In an ignition system, an engine starting electric motor, a generator, a storage battery, an

ignition circuit, a starting switch in said circuit connected with the motor and normally disposed in open circuit position, an electromagnet energized by the generator and connected to the ignition circuit, a resilient armature for the electromagnet forming a conductor and having a contact, an insulated fixed contact coacting with the armature contact, and connected to the ignition circuit and to the battery and forming a charge circuit for the battery, and a set screw adapted to engage the armature and move said contacts to circuit closing position to convert the charge circuit into an ignition circuit supplied by the battery when the generator is not running and the starting switch is in open position.

' RICHARD J. COURCIER, SR. 

